GOSA (Gun Owners South Africa) started an initiative on the 26th of November 2015in line with the 16 Days of “ACTIVISM” against women and child abuse. We believethat women do not have to be victims and that by arming themselves they candefend themselves, and their families against any illegal physical and/or emotionalattacks against them like abuse, rape and other forms of violence. Our approach is apro-active one rather than re-active. For this reason we have changed the focus from“Activism” to “Action”.

GOSA’s initiative started with women producing little cameos of why they feel thatthey are not victims by empowering themselves. Firearms (specifically) are theanswer not the problem. Women realise that they can empower themselves not tobe victims by legally arming themselves and being responsible firearm owners.Feedback so far has far exceeded any of our expectations. From ladies in their 70s toyoungsters that shoot sports at age 13, we all have a common goal. Use of theappropriate tool to accomplish a task. Firearms are not evil, but a means for us todefend ourselves or practice our sport. GOSA’s initiative has included ladies that areavid sport shooters to single mothers wanting to protect their children, and granniesthat want to protect themselves and their grandchildren. We will end our campaignon the 15th of December 2015... I know, I know... the OFFICIAL 16 Days of Activismends on Human Rights Day on the 10th of December, but we have a more importantmessage of empowerment to deliver and we know that not much happens overweekends so we are counting only business days.

Let’s start with the “emotional issue”. Just by knowing that as a female you areequipped, and trained to use a firearm, changes one's outlook on life. It emotionallyenables you to know that in case of an attack, you are able to defend yourselfeffectively. We are not saying that as a lady firearm owner you will not get hurt oreven killed, but that it exponentially increases your chances of survival. It evens theodds, levels the playing fields, and gives you a fighting chance. And when you havenothing else standing between you and your attacker, a fighting chance is often allyou need.

We are also not promoting a gung-ho attitude at all. Carrying a firearm changes one'swhole psyche towards living in a very dangerous society, like we are in South Africa. Letme get back to the fact of not being gung-ho -- like the concept of ‘defensive driving’ thatwe are encouraged to adopt, one carefully considers different scenarios as you movethrough your daily life, including those of being attacked, and make appropriateplans accordingly. All of the ladies that I know that are armed, will only use a firearmas an absolute last resort. Carrying a firearm actually makes one's outlook lessconfrontational - avoid first, escape next, then try to reason your way out of thesituation, but if one has no options left, defend yourself vigorously and with all themeans at your disposal... and a firearm beats a pointy stick every day of the week!

My next point is to look at the physical side of being a women. We are smaller andphysically not as strong as a man. If not trained in martial arts, we really can notphysically compete against a stronger man and through the centuries bad men haveused this fact to subjugate women to their wills. Firearms make the ‘contest’ muchmore equal and men rather have to convince and negotiate in the absence of theability to force women to comply. Right about here I should mention that in manycodes of sport shooting, men and women compete on an equal basis - firearms reallyare the great equalizer.

If one looks at the original reason for “16 days of activism” it is to deal with societalproblems causing women and children to be victims. As a lady GOSA member, afirearm owner, sport shooter, firearm trainer and senior firearm safety officer, Iwould like to encourage ladies from across the age spectrum to enable andempower yourselves. Get equipped with the tools you need, get trained and startdefending yourselves. We as female GOSA firearm owners are there to assist you inany way possible on this enabling journey.